Social Work

Social work is a profession built on the belief that every person has the right to dignity, safety, and the opportunity to flourish. Social workers work alongside individuals and families at some of the most difficult and complex moments of their lives, supporting people through poverty, family breakdown, domestic abuse, mental illness, addiction, and the challenges of ageing and disability. They make decisions with significant consequences for the people they serve, operating within a framework of law, ethics, and professional standards that governs how care and protection are provided in England.

At the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, this four-year full-time extended degree programme is approved by Social Work England and leads to a qualification that allows graduates to register as qualified social workers. The extended degree format provides an additional year of structured academic and practical development compared to the standard three-year route, making it accessible to students who will benefit from a more gradual and supported pathway into this demanding profession. Over the four years, you will study the legal framework governing social work, human development across the lifespan, social policy and welfare provision, the theory and methods of social work practice, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory approaches, and the ethics of professional decision-making.

A substantial proportion of the programme is spent in supervised practice placements across a range of social care settings in the North East, where you develop your practical skills and professional judgment under the guidance of experienced qualified social workers.

Qualified social workers work in children's services, adult social care, mental health settings, the youth justice system, hospital social work, and the voluntary sector. Career development opportunities include specialist practice, management, research, and social work education. This is a profession that requires genuine commitment and resilience, but it offers the deep satisfaction of making a real difference in people's lives at moments when skilled and compassionate support matters most.